Mobile app 'Hawa Badlo' launched to fight air pollution in Delhi

The app is currently focused on incidences of pollution through construction activities, garbage burning and maintenance of roads, but has the scope to include other pollution-linked violations.PTI | October 22, 2016, 14:26 IST

NEW DELHI: Residents of the national capital can help fight air pollution by reporting incidences of leaf and garbage burning, and dust generated by construction activities through a new mobile application.

The "Hawa BadloApp" introduced by Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), appointed by the Supreme Court to improve the air quality in Delhi and NCR, allows people to report incidences of air pollution through it.

"The app aims at inclusive participation of citizens in reporting incidences of leaf and garbage burning, building and construction dust and unpaved road dust, and thereby makes them part of the city's fight to curb air pollution," Bhure Lal, chairperson of EPCA said.

The mobile application designed by EPCA, along with the municipal corporations and departments concerned of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments, also include a section for officials, to resolve cases and upload evidence about what has been done, including a copy of the challan.

The app is currently focused on incidences of pollution through construction activities, garbage burning and maintenance of roads, but has the scope to include other pollution-linked violations.

The application will generate weekly reports on the status of the cases and action taken, which will be sent to the officials of the Central and state pollution control boards and municipalities. Also, EPCA will analyse this information to submit its report to the Supreme Court on actions taken in compliance with its orders.

"The app is expected to act as an accountability, public information dissemination and public engagement mechanism," said Sunita Narain, member, EPCA and director general CSE.

The mobile application is also designed to filter out false complaints by creating a reputation system - similar to what is used in online product ratings.

Each complaint is geo-referenced and will provide the time and location where the evidence of violation has been collected and submitted.

EPCA will forward the complaint to the official in-charge, identified through the location and also type of violation.

The app has been made publicly available on iOS and Android application stores, and is expected to play an active role in increasing public engagement and accountability in reducing pollution during the winter season this year.